The Stormers are banking on their United Rugby Championship (URC) winning momentum in their duel with log leaders Leinster on Saturday in Dublin.
After a short break, the #VURC returns this weekend 🍿 pic.twitter.com/rNsxxGzdJ2
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Despite falling to Racing 92 in the Champions Cup, young ball poacher Paul de Villiers believes they still have enough momentum on their side to cause an upset.
“If we could build on that Sale win and ones we got in the URC before leaving South Africa, it will be good,” De Villiers said. “The quicker we get that back and push towards getting back in the Top 8 in the URC, and build from there to try and possibly get a home quarter-final.
“This is an important weekend for us looking at the games waiting after this.”
“This is an important weekend for us looking at the games waiting after this,” De Villiers added, referring to the SA derbies against the Bulls and Lions next month.
Leinster are unbeaten in their nine games so far this season, and Saturday’s duel in the Aviva Stadium will be without some of their Irish stars. The Cape outfit won’t look too much into that, according to De Villiers, because they know how dangerous the Irish powerhouse can be, even when they are not at full strength.
The Stormers see this match as an opportunity for an upset and that’s why they’ve rested some stars who did not play against Racing. They believe this strategy could aid them in getting a first win in Dublin.
“They will have a proper side playing, but there are a few things we didn’t get right this past weekend...”
“They will have a proper side playing, but there are a few things we didn’t get right this past weekend that we will focus on to fix and execute it better possibly,” De Villiers added.
“Whether that means doing different things or doing the same as we did (against Racing), we have to do it better. If we go in with the right mindset and attitude and give it our all this weekend, it could mean a lot for our URC campaign.
“We can then build on it if we return home with a couple of points.”
With World Cup winner Deon Fourie set to return to the fetcher role after sitting out, De Villiers could find himself coming off the bench to make an impact. He’s been excellent in that role when substituting Fourie in the second half, and he keeps opposition teams on their toes when he swoops in at the breakdown looking to steal possession.
Although their hosts might not have the likes of loose forwards Josh van der Flier or Caelan Doris playing on Saturday due to Six Nations commitments, De Villiers is still looking forward to testing himself against a top side.